Singapore: Taoist Festival Photo Gallery by Peter Chou at pbase.com

Singapore: Taoist Festival

The following photos were taken on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year. It is an important day for Taoists in Singapore as this day is for receiving the Emperor of Heaven for the New Year. The festival for this Taoist shrine is officiated by Taoist mediums or 'Tangki' in the Hokkien dialect. 'Tangki' conducts seance that allows Taoist deities to enter their body so as to divine the future, bless devotees and also conduct exorcism. In this particular occasion, 3 'Tangki' who served as bodily embodiment of the Monkey Deity, Celestial General and Celestial Boy officiated the ceremony. The most unforgettable scene was the unsuccessful seance attempted by a novice 'Tangki' that lasted for almost an hour, which left the young 'Tangki' collapsed in exhaustion. The 'Tangki' for the Monkey Deity even lacerated his tongue to bless talisman with his own blood! He was obviously oblivious to pain and the deep wound miraculously closed after the ceremony! The shooting of this festival left me completed exhausted at the end and I personally have yet to expose so many rolls of film in such a short period of time. The constant rythmic banging of gongs and drums had an almost hypnotic effect on the spectators and it made everyone there totally immersed in the spectacle that unfolded before them. Even for a local, this is the first time I witness their religious devotion at such close proximity.

pages 1 2 3 ALL

Shrine to Monkey Deity	Altar	Altar to Celestial Mounts	Making Preparations I
Making Preparations II	Making Preparations III	Making Preparations IV	Little Girl
Siblings	Matriarch	Chief Medium	Commencing the Ceremony
Blessing Ritual I	Blessing Ritual II	Blessing Ritual III	Blessing Ritual IV
Tangki Making Offering I	Tangki Making Offering II	Chanting Taoist Hymns	Blessing Regalia
Beginning of Seance	Sitting on Seance Chair I	Sitting on Seance Chair II	Seance I
Seance II	Possessed by Monkey Deity I	Possessed by Monkey Deity II	Possessed by Monkey Deity III
Wearing Crown of Monkey Deity	Possessed by Celestial General	Wearing Regalia of Celestial General	Giving Orders
Divining I	Divining II	Preparing for Seance	Seance III
Seance IV	Possessed by Celestial Boy	Wearing Regalia I	Wearing Regalia II
Wearing Regalia III	Paying Respect to Altar	Celestial General I	Celestial General II
Celestial General III	Celestial Boy I	Celestial Boy II	Celestial Boy III
Celestial Boy IV	Celestial Boy V	Prostrating Lion	Receiving Blessing
Making Offerings to Heaven I	Making Offerings to Heaven II	Making Offerings to Heaven III	Divining III
Divining IV	Divining V	Procession of Lion Dancers	Girl from Lion Dance Troupe
Ushering in the Deity of Wealth	Deity of Longevity	Unsuccessful Seance I	Unsuccessful Seance II
Unsuccessful Seance III	Unsuccessful Seance IV	Unsuccessful Seance V	Unsuccessful Seance VI
Unsuccessful Seance VII	Unsuccessful Seance VIII	Unsuccessful Seance IX	Exhaustion
Lacerating Tongue I	Blessing Sword with Blood	Blessing Talisman with Blood I	Blessing Talisman with Blood II
Blessing Talisman with Blood III	Blessing Talisman with Blood IV	Blessing Talisman with Blood V	Blessing Talisman with Blood VI
Lacerating Tongue II	Blessing Talisman with Blood VII	Blessing Talisman with Blood VIII	Spellbound Spectators I
Spellbound Spectators II	Blessing Talisman I	Blessing Talisman II	Blessing Talisman III
Blessing Talisman IV	Blessing Talisman V	Blessing Talisman VI	Blessing Talisman VII
Blessing Talisman VIII	Blessing Talisman IX	Coming Out of Trance I	Coming Out of Trance II
Coming Out of Trance III	Coming Out of Trance IV	Coming Out of Trance V	Coming Out of Trance VI
Coming Out of Trance VII	Coming Out of Trance VIII

pages 1 2 3 ALL

comment |

Betty Wilchek		17-Jun-2008 17:32
You put alot of work into this Gallery. Outstanding images and a great experience to see. Thank you for sharing. Gallery Vote

123		21-Dec-2007 08:42
Stunning imagery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! V

DEW kelly		26-Aug-2007 09:30
wonderful in-depth images. You have really captured the essence of this truly remarkable event. well done!

Latifa Messaoudi		03-Jul-2006 04:46
thanks for this travel: beautiful pics!

Yves Rubin		01-Feb-2006 23:59
Amazing perspective you are having here, Peter! I would have loved to be there to experience this! Thank you for your kind comments about my pictures. I look forward to see many more from you. Yves

Eddie Ling		25-Jan-2006 10:11
Great work! traditional festival is well present!

david procter		21-Jan-2006 04:54
Thanks for sharing this remarkable series of events. As a westerner living in the east I often feel very privileged to see what i see, but there are some events that can only be captured through eastern eyes.

Guest		24-Nov-2005 17:31
Great gallery. It must have been some experience

Richard Calmes		23-Nov-2005 14:46
This is quite a Gallery! This must have been quite a spectacle which you have captured well.

Michael Tauber		19-Sep-2005 19:25
An excellent documentary report with very nice compositions.

Bob Moul		13-Aug-2005 13:17
Excellent, interesting photos, Peter. Thanks for sharing.

Guest		09-Aug-2005 16:41
Wonderful series of Image here! Thank you so much for sharing these Inspiring Visions!

Eric Pouhier		28-Jul-2005 14:51
Fabulous, great Art ! Bravo, Eric

Sekabin		02-Jul-2005 10:11
Great gallery of images that are not easy to see (I've been told about these festivals and rituals by friends but never seen for myself). I have to agree that you have a sensitivity to capture the events. Great!

Guest		13-Jun-2005 05:03
Remarkable ceremony! We are privileged to see this even as photographs. I voted for this of course. Thank you, Peter, for allowing us to share even a little of this holy rite. Sincerely, Ellsworth

Jongky Ku		27-Apr-2005 06:36
Peter, what an amazing gallery and festival. You've captured all the events perfect. As always, I like your B&W pics. Cheers

Oscar Reina		26-Apr-2005 10:46
Peter, as Gene said, while we talk the talking you walk the walking :) You're doing a fantastic work and I envy your insight vision and dedication. Please keep showing us more of your visions on Singapore.

Konrad Busslinger		19-Apr-2005 14:29
Intersting gallery Peter. Would be intersting to be there. Great B&W photos.

Steve Pepple		05-Apr-2005 02:17
Nice gallery, Peter. Fascinating series of photos, as someone else said, much like watching a documentary.

Clyne		03-Apr-2005 03:14
Very nicely done, Peter - as usual. A great insight.

Guest		02-Apr-2005 02:59
Nicely done, Peter. Going through one by one is not unlike viewing a documentary film, but in still frames. Many of these are fascinating and could stand on their own. I like the style and "feel" of your photography, it is very distinctive. Excellent job documenting this event.

tohdj		31-Mar-2005 02:39
perhaps a shallow depth of field can clear up the clutter in the background. the capturing of the mood and atmosphere of the event is very well-done!!!

Antonis Sarantos		30-Mar-2005 09:06
A quite unusual gallery. You are very lucky to be there and have the opportunity to take pictures. But i don't believe that luck is enough. What makes this gallery important is your sensitinivity and your artistry which are both in a high level. I also like the excellent use of b&w and the documentary style that you selected. Perfect 10' Peter and voted of course!

Guest		30-Mar-2005 01:58
interesting set of pictures and you have a good opportunity to document the process. I understand they are quite sensitive to be being photographed. 10-20 yrs back the tangkis will go on a procession that las ta few kms to go from one temple to another. These days this is no longer common. All rituals seems to be limited to the temple locatio nor in the case of HDB the tentage. thanks for sharing!

click on thumbnails for full image

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment